This is what happens when you have zero leadership and sympathizers among the public officials. You’re essentially putting out the welcome mat for continued anarchy. At this point they really deserve no mercy and you can expect the anarchists to take this as the cue for more violence.

Oakland’s City Council, amid a rowdy crowd of protesters, narrowly backed off a resolution Tuesday that would have beefed up law enforcement at Occupy protests.

The resolution, which lacked the five votes necessary to pass, would have increased police enforcement of laws against blocking streets and assembling without a permit. The proposal came in the wake of a Jan. 28 protest downtown in which 400 people were arrested.

Even as they defeated the resolution, council members expressed anger at the tactics of Occupy Oakland during the meeting, particularly group members’ persistent shouting.

“I am disgusted with the complete lack of respect you have shown,” said City Councilwoman Pat Kernighan. “You are hypocrites when it comes to free speech. I have lost all respect for you.”

City Councilwoman Desley Brooks, who early in the movement supported Occupy Oakland, was even more harsh.

“The only thing I can see with this movement is an ever-moving target,” she said. “You talk about a movement, but it doesn’t go beyond you.”

Trying to reason with the mutants just doesn’t work and what do they get in return? Personal threats, of course.

About 50 people spoke on the issue, packing the chambers and frequently erupting in applause, boos and shouts. At one point the audience sang “We Shall Overcome.” The shouting became so loud toward the end of the debate the council recessed for 15 minutes.

Most speakers were opposed to the resolution, in some cases threatening the council personally, although some said the resolution would protect port workers and tamp down the protests they believe have gotten out of hand.

Meanwhile…this weekend saw a spike in murders on Oakland streets and bodies piling up at the morgue.

The city budget is melting down, a scandal involving unwinding the Redevelopment Agencies’ featherbedding is about to blow up, the mayorette faces a recall. and small downtown businesses (other than the thriving medical marijuana shops) are seeing a downward spiral as patrons opt to go to places that are not subject to periodic riots and mayhem (only peaceful mayhem allowed.)

So why do they even need resoltuions to stop what should already be illegal (protesting in the middle of streets)? That shouldn’t be necessary, unless you have useless idiots acting as useful idiots for the mobs.

Blue Hen, two reasons. First, it’s a public statement and warning, which may get some people to leave Occupoo. Secondly, and I’ve seen this several places from AL to CA, the cops have probably told the city government that unless officers get some kind of official cover, they won’t enforce the laws no matter what. The officers can be held personally liable, they are the ones who can be tarred in the future with the “raaaaacist” / homophobic / etc. charges on their records, and in a lot of cases they’ve decided it ain’t worth it when they’ll be hung out to dry afterwards.